Is it time for Ginetta Juniors to leave the BTCC package?

[Wendy Wool]

It seems the Ginetta Juniors are going the same way as Formula Renault (although for different reasons).

After the late call to remove Formula Renault just before this season commenced are we not seeing enough evidence that falling grid numbers of Ginetta Juniors during the season are a problem waiting to happen in 2013?

As the BTCC is our premier package it is just not acceptable to see grids of less than a dozen cars.

To avoid a repeat of the problems for drivers, teams, sponsors, TV etc, should the Juniors not be served notice now that they are off the BTCC bill for next year?

[ss_collins]

Yes please. BTCC needs to have some non spec supports.

[andy97]

Problem is that Ginetta put quite a lot of money in to the BTCC package - the G55/50 Supercup and the support of Frank Wrathall's NGTC car, too. Maybe you don't get the one without the other?

That said, logistically if the the Juniors were on the same package as the Ginetta GT5 Challenge they'd only need one G40 spares truck!

[NightStalk3r]

Id love to see British GT on the BTCC package, i love my Sundays in front of ITV4 and Live British GT would be excellent.

[The SpeCTator]

The BTCC is an extremely weak package dressed up to look more than it is.
Remove all the hospitality tents and trucks and there are normally less than 100 cars in the paddock.
For our premier package this is pretty poor and during the weekend the numbers decrease as the accidents occur.
There should be no package on the programme that cannot field a minimum of 20 cars, anything less is an insult to the spectators who pay good money to see the show.
The Ginetta Juniors must be axed or maybe Mr Tomlinson needs to make up the numbers on a rent a deal.
Anyone in doubt about this should be made to stand on the fence at Snetterton 300 and watch 11 cars go round.

[Peat]

There was a time a few years ago where i would watch every race on the BTCC support bill. It is in a very weak situation at the mo.

Perhaps a move to a more area defined support bill like they do at Croft and Knockhill?

[Wendy Wool]

I see that Formula Renault have been given 2 months to commit to minimum entries for 2013, so its ship up or ship out for good. Well done TOCA

Hopefully the same approach will cover all support races, I would love to see 20+ Ginetta Juniors racing but fear it will not happen as the driving standards have been so poor who in their right mind would sign on for the damage bills that are synonymous with this series.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Wendy Wool

the driving standards have been so poor

Maybe the Ginetta Junior drivers look at what they see in other championships in the "premier package" & think that poor driving standards are acceptable in the interests of "good television"?

[tux]

As Nightstalker said, British GT should join the package.

Maybe have British GT, BTCC, F3, Formula Ford and Clio Cup as the package, would be brilliant.

[Peat]

It's been tried before, 'POWERTOUR' anyone??

Too many ego's running the championships to share the bill. Plus, it hurts the circuits in terms of year-round revenue shrinking 2 major dates into 1.

[vjay48]

Surely why cant the better supported club championships have a day on the BTCC,it happened in the past,it would do a lot for the profile of the better championships also it might encourage spectators at BTCC events to consider going to other meetings. You can now all spend your time argueing which championships should be included,at the rate of two per meeting it could involve 20 or so catagories,would good to see and for drivers etc something good to look forward to. I can remember in the days when i competed in BRSCC mod saloons,we got to race at the super prix at birmingham,entries were great all season because the entries were based on previous points scored!

[Speed-King]

One problem with that might be TV. I am pretty sure the teams and/or organizers of the support series pay for the TV coverage.

Bring in club series and it all becomes very compicated.

[vjay48]

Did the minis and classic saloons/sports,pay to be on tv the other week,i dont think so. I cannot see why tv would be a problem.

[vjay48]

I cannot see why bringing in club races is complicated,canned championships are complicated,empty circuits are complicated. Two 30 car grids at a £400 entry fee, £24000 would not be complicated to BARC etc.

[codename_47]

I don't think I'd want to see Ginetta Jrs leave the bill as I thought they were limited, grid number wise, anyway for safety reasons.
These are kids learning their trade, don't forget and they need to do that in as safe an enviroment as possible, yes, they will make mistakes at some point.

I'd rather lose the Porsche Carerra Cup tbh, tired of its sham class system to make it look like there's more competitive cars than there really are when most of them are filled with Gentleman drivers in reality and the racing is almost always snoozeworthy, a definite "skip" on the support bill for me.
But I assume with the amount of money Porsche throw at TOCA
(including ensuring the commentary "A-team" (Moody and Harvey) commentate on their races instead of RJN and this weeks random guest!)
I can't see it going anywhere, sadly.

Same with British GT really, nice cars but the racing isn't great, pass.

I'd rather steal the Caterhams or Legends tbh, you can count on quality racing with them every time they hit the track and they're deserving of a wider audience.
Maybe even FFord too, it might give that championship the boost it so badly needs.

Other than that, leave the Juniors alone, they're fun to watch and, as I say, they're only learning!